Sheet-metal seam



July 5, 1927. 1,634,947

J. A. LACHAINE SHEET METAL SEAN! Filed June 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 5, 1927.

J- A. LACHA-INE SHEET METAL SEAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed June 19. 1926 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 'A Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

PATIENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. LAcriA'INE, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEET-METAL SEAM.

Application filed Jul 1e19,

provide seamed joints so constructed as to render the cabinet fire-proof and of knockdown construction for convenience 1n transportation or storage.

Another object is in the provision of a simple and cheaply manufactured joint that is easily made, rugged and durable when present in the erected'product.

A further aim is to provide means where- 35 by cabinets and the like are quickly, simply and easily assembled or disassembled.

A still further characteristic is in the provision of seams or joints between a multiplicityof metal compartments having no 20 outside'means of securing or attachment, as by rivets, bolts or other fastening devices.

These several objects are accomplished by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described 25 and depicted in the accompanying illustrations, forming a component of this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, having part of the cover plate broken away to show the construction.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of central joint.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 are sectional views of modifications of sea-ms adaptable to side or end connections.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates a pair of sheet metal plates to which are fixed by electric spot welding, hooked plate members 16. A cover plate 17 having downturned edges 18 has similarly secured to its under surface, near its edge, L-shaped elements 19 each having its shorter arm hookedin the same manner as the member 16. The cover is firmly secured in position by a fiat C-shaped device 20 slidingly engaging both of the hooks formed on the members 16 and 19. r

The central inner plates 21 have similar means connected thereto by which the cover 1926. Serial No. 117,061.

is further secured and held, as may be seen in Figure 3. r

The lateral edges of the plates 15 terminate in oppositely disposed longitudinal hooks 22 and 22, the former hook engaging a hooked L 23, the front arm 24 of which is welded to an offset portion 25 of a front plate 26- having an inwardly projecting member 27 surrounding an opening over which may be secured any preferred door.

The central plates 21 also ending in hooked Us 28 engage J-shaped members 29 'WBlClGd to angularly adjacent plates 21.

Thus it may be seen that each plate 21 has a hook formed integral therewith and a J-shaped element welded thereto all of the several curves andhooks being slidingly engageable with each other.

Figure 4 shows a 3-way joint inwhich a plate 35, bent at right angles, is hooked to form a space 36. It is then bent back closely upon itself at 37, its extending arm 38 on the opposite side of the plate being bent to form a hook 39. A second plate 40 is similarly bent in a reverse direction to present a space41 and a hook 42. A third plate 45 is bent in a serpentine manner to present hooked elements 46 and 47 to engage in the space formed by the members 39 and Figure 5 shows a plate 50 bent at right angles to present a hook 51, the same being inwardly bent back upon itself at 52 to form an extension 53 terminating in a second hook 54. Slidingly engageable in the space formed by the hooks 51 and 54 is a pair of similar J-shaped members 55 presenting, together with the plate 50, a 3-way seam.

Figure 6 illustrates a plate 60, sheared at 61 to form a pair of opposed arms 62 to which is welded a flattened C-shaped ele ment 63. v

In Figure 7, a plate 70 has welded to it a strip of metal thinner than the plate 70 bent re-entrant-ly back upon itself at its central portion 71 to present a member 72 of C-shaped cross section.

In Figure 8, a plate 80 having an ofi'set portion 81, terminates in a hook 82. WVelded to the plate 80 is a second narrow plate strip 83, shaped similarly to the plate 80 present- 4 ing an oppositely facing hook 84. Removably engageable in the hooks 82 and 84 is a pair of hooked Ls, 85 and 86 respectively.

In Figure 9, the construction presents a similar appearance to Figure 8 except that there is no weldingto be done the device being unitary.

A plate 90 is bent to form a hooked edge 9i bent back 1113011 itSQlf at'SQto presenta second hook 93 on the opposite side of the plate 90, ending in a close inwardlydirected member 94.

Figure 10 presents a Cehaped element 100 formed by opposed arms sheared at 101 from a plate102.

Figure 11 shows a plate 110 to whic h is elded a double Walled plate 111, the wall separating at the end of theplate 1.10 and heinghent at right angles forming extench ii gjpprtions 11 2 ending in hooks 113.

"It willbe noted froin the foregoing, that several methods of making seanisor joints for sheetinetail cabinets, has bee n disclosed that in every way1fnlfill the pnrp oses for whichthis intention is intended.

While eertain preferred embodiments of this (leviee have been v:,--hown and leserihed, it will be understood that ch; ,5 in the form; arrangements, proportions, sizes and detailstlielfeof, may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention asidefined in ,the appended claims.

Havingthns described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secured by Letters Patent, is

1.. A sheetmetal seam comprising a flat thin plate,11oolc-sl1aped portions formed integrally with said plate, oppositely disposed 1hook-shapediinembelzsset-med to said plate,

and interlocking means slidil'lgly engageahle- \lilll-Hillel llOOlQSlltilJCfl element to hold the same lil'inly together.

2. A sheet inetal seam GODIPIISII'Ig a plurality ol platesr arins formed on said plates, 7

hook-shaped elements Qn said il1'l l1$, fi n l ineans engageable w th said liook shaped elements to firmly support sald plates,

3. A metal seamcomprising a tlafl plate,

Signed atLowell, in the coniqtioflMigL (lles ex and State of Mines, this fonrtlrday of Jan A- D- l9 s H A. LAQHAIEE. 

